Compartment carrier with additional partition members



Feb. 1, 1966 G. v. WOODLING 3,232,477

CDPIZEARTi-EENT CARRIER WITH ADDITIONAL PARTITION MEMBERS Filed March18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l m5 FIG-3.4 INVENTOR.

GEORGE V. WOODLING Feb. 1, 1966 G. v. WOODLING 3,232,477

COMPARTMENT CARRIER WITH ADDITIONAL PARTITION MEMBERS Filed March 18,1964. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. GEORGE V. WOODLING BY FIGJ WJMMWWMUnited States Patent 3,232,477 COMPARTMENT CARRIER WITH ADDITIONALPARTITIQN MEMBERS George V. Woodling, 22077 West Lake Road, Rocky River,Ohio Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,778 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) Myinvention relates to compartment carriers and more particularly tocompartment carriers for carrying bottles and other similar articles. Inthe trade there are two general types of compartment carriers, one beingreferred to as the strap type and the other being referred to as thefull-depth type. An example of the full-depth type is shown in US.Patent No. 2,688,421 and the designation is derived from the fact thatthe partitions which separate the bottles are substantially of fulldepth to give maximum protection to the bottles or other articles beingcarried. An example of the strap type is shown in my patent applicationSerial No. 170,542, filed Feb. 2, 1962, now Pat. No. 3,152,719, andpatent application Serial No.249,256, filed Jan. 3, 1963, now Pat. No.3,151,769, and the designation is derived from the fact that thepartitions which separate the bottles or other articles being carriedare in the nature of narrow connecting straps.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my applications SerialNos. 170,542 and 249,256, filed Feb. 2, 1962 and Jan. 3, 1963, now Pat.Nos. 3,152,719 and 3,151,769, respectively, and it is to be understoodthat the disclosures of these pending applications are incorporated inthis application the same as though they were written and shown herein.

An object of my invention is to provide for converting a strap typecarrier into a substantially full-depth type carrier.

Another object is to provide for strengthening the handle and the baseof the carrier, as well as for providing substantially full-depthpartitions to separate the bottles or other articles being carried.

Another object is the provision of a secondary partition structurehaving a bridging panel extending from one end of the carrier to theother to separate the carrier into two side compartments and havingsubstantially full-depth secondary partitions extending from thebridging panel to the sides of the carrier for separating the sidecompartments into a plurality of subcornpartments.

Another object is the provision of cutting the secondary partitions outof the sides of the bridging panels.

Another object is the provision of a secondary partition structurehaving a bridging panel provided with recesses to receive the partitionswhen the carrier is collapsed so that there are no thick spotsinterfering with the proper pressing and gluing of the panels together.

Another object is the provision of constructing the entire carrier,except the base, of substantially uniform thickness, preferably sixpanels, so that in the collapsed condition during the assembly andgluing operations there are no thick spots interfering with the properpressing and gluing of the panels together.

Another object is to provide a reinforcing flap for the base and thenstapling the flap to the end wall rib means or to the secondarypartition structure.

Another object is the provision of a combined secondary handle structureand a secondary partition structure adapted to be embodied in a straptype carrier to convert it into a substantially full-depth carrier andto strengthen the handle.

Another object is to strengthen a strap type carrier which is normallyused for carrying small size bottles so that the carrier may be madeinto a large size and used 3,232,4'Z7 Patented F eh. l, 1966 to carrylarge size bottles, such as quarts and one-half quarts.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a blank of paperboard from which the strap typecarrier may be constructed;

FIGURE 2 is a view of a blank of paperboard from which the combinedsecondary handle structure and the secondary partition structure may beconstructed;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the blank in FIGURE 2 with a part of the secondaryhandle structure cut and removed therefrom and with the bridging panelsat the opposite ends thereof folded underneath the blank;

FIGURE 4 shows the removed parts of the secondary handle structure inFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 shows the blank of FIGURE 1 with the blank shown in FIGURE 3glued to the left-hand side thereof and with the blank shown in FIGURE 4glued to the right-hand side thereof, all being preparatory to foldingand assembling the carrier;

FIGURE 7 shows the blanks of FIGURE 6 after they have been foldedsidewise, this view showing the back of the folded blanks before theyare folded back-to-back to form the finished carrier;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a compartment carrier embodying thefeatures of my invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 ofFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE9; and

FIGURE 11 is a view taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10, showingprincipally the stapling of the flap of the base to the secondarypartition structure and to the bottom portion of the infold rib means ofthe end walls.

With reference to FIGURES-8 and 9 of the drawings, the strap typecarrier comprises a collapsible box-cornpartment identified by thereference character 20 having a centrally disposed handle 21 with strappartitions 22, 23, 24 and 25 extending from the handle 21 which dividethe box-compartment 20 into six subcornpartrnents disposed in two rowsof three each on each side of the handle. The box-compartment 29 has abase comprising two panels 26 and 27.

The blank from which the carrier is made is shown in FIGURE 1. Thebox-compartment has two side wall means and two end wall means. The twoside wall means comprise first and second opposed side walls 30 and 31having lower edges respectively connected to the outer edges of the basepanels 26 and 27. As illustrated, the base panels 26 and 27 have endportions or flaps 28 and 29, respectively, the portion or flap 28 beingglued to the marginal edge portion of the base panel 27, whereas theportion or flap 29 extends upwardly as a reinforcing member tostrengthen the base. The strap type carrier is made of one piece and allthe folded lines (shown dotted) constitute integral hinges whereby thecarrier may be foldable from a collapsed condition to an erectedcondition.

The end wall means comprises first and second pairs of end panels. Thefirst pair of end panels comprise two panels 32 and 33 and the secondpair of end panels comprise two panels 34 and 35. The first pair of endpanels 32 and 33 have inner adjacent edges 36 and 37. A first pair ofinfold ribs 40 and 41 are respectively connected to the inner adjacentedges 36 and 37 of the first pair of end panels 32 and 33. The firstpair of infold ribs 40 3 and 41 extend inwardly in face-contactingrelation and are secured together, such as by glue, to connect the inneradjacent edges 36 and 37 of the first pair of panels 32 and 33. Thefirst pair of infold ribs 40 and 41 has a bottom portion 33 and a riserportion 42 which extends above the first pair of end panels 32 and 33.

The second pair of end panels 34 and 35 have inner adjacent edges 43 and44. A second pair of infold ribs and 46 are respectively connected tothe inner adjacent edges 43 and 44 of the second pair of end panels 34and 35'. The second pair of infold ribs 45 and 46 extend inwardly inface-contacting relation and are secured together, such as by glue, toconnect the inner adjacent edges 43 and 44 of the second pair of endpanels 34 and 35. The second pair of infold ribs 45 and 46 has a bottomportion 39 and a riser portion 47 which extends above the second pair ofend panels 34 and 35.

The handle 21 comprises first and second telescopic handle means 50 and51. The first telescopic handle means 5t comprises first and secondhandhold panels 52 and 53 each having first (outer) and second (inner)ends 54 and 55. The first (outer) end 54 of the first and secondhandhold panels 52 and 53 are joined along integral vertical fold linesto the riser portion 42 of the first pair of infold ribs 40 and 41. Thesecond (inner) end 55 of the first and second handheld panels 52 and 53extends toward and substantially reaches the riser portion 47 of thesecond pair of infold ribs 45 and 46.

The second telescopic handle means 51 comprises third and fourthhandhold panels and 61 each having first (outer) and second (inner) ends62 and 63. The first (outer) end 62 of the third and fourth handholdpanels 60 and 61 are joined along integral vertical fold lines to theriser portion 47 of the second pair of infold ribs 45 and 46. The second(inner) end 63 of the third and fourth handhold panels 60 and 61 extendstoward and substantially reaches the rise-r portion 42 of the first pairof infold ribs 40 and 41. The first and second handhold panels 52 and 53are substantially identical with each other and are joined together attheir top edges along an integral horizontal fold line 66. The first andfourth handhold panels 60 and 61 are substantially identical with eachother and are joined together at their top edge along an integralhorizontal fold line 67. In assembly, the blank is folded about itscentral fold. lines 66. and 67 with the upper half as if raised from thepatent drawing sheet and then folded down over the lower half.

The side wall 30 has first and second pivotal vertical edges 72 and 73.The side wall 31 has third and fourth pivotal vertical edges 76 and 77.The vertical side edges 72 and 73, and 76 and '77, are disposedrespectively at the one-third points along the length of the side walls.For a carrier having eight compartments, the vertical side edges wouldbe disposed at the one-fourth points along the length of the side walls.The location of these points depends upon the number of compartments ina single row and the point location for each partition may be designatedas (l/n), Where (n) is the number of compartments in a single row.

The third handhold panel 60 has first and second pivotal handle verticaledges 80 and 84. The fourth handhold panel 61 has third and fourth.pivotal handle vertical edges 81 and 85. The vertical handle edges 80and 81, and 84 and 85 are disposed respectively at the one-third pointsalong the combined length of the first and second telescopic handlemeans 50 and 51. For a carrier having eight compartments, the verticalhandle edges would be disposed at the one-fourth points along thecombined length of the first and second telescopic handle means 50 and51. The location of these points depends upon the number of compartmentsin a single row and the point location for each partition may bedesignated as (l/n) where (n) is the number of compartments in a singlerow.

In my assembled strap type carrier, the vertical side edges have a topterminal end which registers with the top of the side walls and a bottomterminal end which extends downwardly into the body or the side walls.The vertical handle edges have avbottom terminal end which registerswith the bottom of the third and fourth handhold panels 60 and 61 and atop terminal end which extends upwardly into the respective handholdpanels 60 and 61. The top terminal ends of the vertical side edges 72and '73, and 76 and 77 are substantially on the same level as the bottomterminal ends of the vertical handle edges and 81, and 84 and 85. Thefour partitions 22, 23, 24 and 25 each have outer ends respectivelyconnected to the vertical side edges 72, 73, 76 and 77 and have innerends respectively connected to the vertical handle edges 80, 81, 84 and85.

The combined length of the first and third handhold panels 52 and 60,when telescoped in the finished carriers, is substantially the same asthe length of the side walls. The two panels may therefore be referredto as a first primary handle panel means. The same condition is true forthe second and fourth handhold panels 53' and 61 and they may bereferred to as a second primary handle panel means.

The description thus far has been devoted to that of my strap typecarrier which may be converted into a substantially full-depth partitioncarrier. The conversion may be used to effect at the same time thereinforcement of the handle. The full-depth partition conversion and thehandle reinforcement conversion are accomplished by means of a combinedsecondary handle structure and a secondary partition structure. Theblank from which the combined secondary handle structure and secondarypartition structure may be made is shown in FIGURE 2. The secondarypartition structure comprises two identical end portions indicated bythe reference characters A and B, and the secondary handle structurecomprises the central portion indicated by the reference character C.The portion A comprises two partition bridging panels 88 and 89, ofwhich the panel 39 ha two partition members and 91 cut therefrom. Thepanel 88 is folded underneath the panel 89 and glued back-to-backthereto except for the area occupiedby the two partition members 90 and91 which hinge respectively along dotted lines 92 and 93 to the panel 89(see FIGS. 3 and 5). The two partition members 90 and 91 haverespectively tab portions 94 and 95 which are later adapted to be gluedto the side 30 of the carrier. The structure of the portion B isidentical to the structure of the portion A and comprises two partitionbridging panels 96 and 97, of which the panel 97 has two partitionmembers 98 and 99 cut therefrom. The panel 96 is folded underneath thepanel 97 and glued back-to-back thereto except for the area occupied bythe two partition member 98 and 99 which hinge respectively along dottedlines 100 and 101 to the panel 97. The two partition members 98 and 99have respectively tab portions 102 and 103 which are later adapted to beglued to the side wall 31. The portion C comprises a first handle panelmeans comprising two parts 104 and 106 and a second handle panel meanscomprising two parts 105 and 107. The parts 194 and 105 have been cutfrom the blank in FIGURE 2 with a clearance space as indicated so thatthere are adequate tolerances along the edges of the assembled panelswhen they are folded into the finished carrier. In assembly, the twoparts 104 and 105 of FIGURE 4 are glued to the two infold ribs 40 and 41of my strap type blank in FIGURE 1 (see the entire assembly in FIG. 6).The parts 106 and 107 remain integral with the two secondary partitionstructures A and B (see FIG. 3)v The right-hand edge portion of theentire blank of FIGURE 3, which includes the two parts 106 and 107, isglued to the two infold ribs 45 and 46. The next step in the assembly isshown in FIGURE 7 where the blanks of FIGURES 3 and 4 which are nowglued to the infold ribs of my strap type blank are folded along withtheir respective infold ribs over the face of my strap type blank, whileat the same time the handle portions are telescoped. FIGURE 7 ShOWs theback of the folded blanks and it will be noted that clearance spaces areprovided by the adjacent matching edges of the folded panels so as toprovide clearance in assembly. In the final assembly, the folded partsof FIGURE 7 are folded about the center fold line 108 with the upperhalf as if raised from the patent drawing sheet and then folded downover the lower half, gluing the back-to-back parts together a well asthe base. In the final folding and gluing operations, the partition tabs94 and 95 are glued to the side wall 30 and the partition tabs 1G2 and103 are glued to the side wall 31. Also the outer ends of the secondarypartition members 90 and 91 are glued at 110 and 111, respectively, tothe outer ends of the strap partitions 23 and 22 and the outer ends ofthe secondary partitions 98 and 99 are glued respectively at 112 and 113to the outer end of the strap partitions 25 and 24 (see FIG. 9).

Except for the two partition members 90 and 91, the partition bridgingpanels 88 and 89 are glued together and constitute a first bridgingpanel means. The end marginal edge portions of the bridging panel 89 areconnected to the bottom portions 38 and 39 of the infold ribs 40 and 45.The bridging panel 88 extends with a small clearance on each sidethereof between the inner edges of infold ribs 4% and 45. By a similarconstruction, the partition bridging panels 96 and 97 are glued togetherexcept for the two partition members 93 and 99 and they constitute asecond bridging panel means. The end marginal edge portions of thebridge panel 97 are connected to the bottom portions 38 and 93 of theinfold ribs 41 and 46. The bridging panel 96 extends with a smallclearance on each side thereof between the inner edges of the infoldribs 41 and 46. In final assembly, the two bridging panels 88 and 96 areglued together back-to-back. The bridging panel structure ties thebottom portion of the infold ribs together and thereby reinforces thestructure of the box-compartment, whereby the carrier may be made inlarge sizes to carry larger bottles. The first bridging panel meanscomprising the panels 88 and 89 and the second bridging panel meanscomprising the panels 96 and 97, when glued together comprise a unitwhich may be referred to as secondary partition structure means. Theopposite sides of the secondary partition structure means are identicaland each include an outer raised surface portion and a recessed surfaceportion, the latter of which is adapted to receive the partition membersin the collapsed condition of the carrier, whereby the exposed surfacesof the collapsed partition members are substantially on the same levelas the outer raised surface portion. the box-compartment is in itscollapsed condition, the secondary partition structure means is disposedbetween the side walls, making a six-panel thickness throughout sincethe partition members 90 and 91, and 98 and 99 occupy the recessedspaces in the bridging panels 83 and 97 from which they were out (seeFIG. Thus there are no thick spots to interfere with the pressing andgluing of the panels together as is the case with most carriers.

With respect to the reinforcing of the handle structure of my strap typecarrier, the portion C of FIGURE 2 may be considered as of one unit,even though the parts 104 and 195 are cut and separated therefrom. Theseparation is for the purpose of assembly. In the final assembly, theseparated parts are, however, reunited as one unit and may be referredto as secondary handle structure means. The unit actually comprisesfirst and second reinforcing handle panel means foldable about the foldline 103. Both of the folded reinforcing handle panel means have endmarginal edge connection portions connected respectively to the riserportions of the infold rib means and an intermediate portion sandwichedbetween the first and second primary handle panel means.

When

The primary handle panel means and the secondary handle structure meanscomprise a thickness of six panels substantially throughout the entirereinforced handle. The secondary handle structure means has the efiectof making the primary handle panel means thicker, in which case thecombined thickness of the four thickened handheld panels in myapplication Serial No. 249,256 would be equivalent to the six panels inthis application. In other words first and second primary handle panelmeans are still considered to be back-to-back, even though the primaryhandle panel means is reinforced by the secondary handle structuremeans.

All of the handle panels and the riser portions of the infold ribs areglued together making a six-panel thickness throughout the handle withno thick spots to interfere with the pressing and gluing of the panelstogether. The six-panel handle is strong and sturdy. The conversion ofmy strap type carrier handle to a stronger handle and the conversion ofthe box-compartment into one with substantially full-depth partitionsmakes my converted carrier useful in the design of larger size carrierswhereby it may be used for carrying heavier bottles such as quarts andone-half quarts.

The secondary partition members 91, 90, 99 and 98, respectively, arelocated substantially directly underneath the strap type partitionmembers 22, 23, 24 and 25, so that the combined effect of the strap typepartition and the additional secondary partitions make substantiallyfull-depth partitions.

As shown in FIGURES l0 and 11, the center portion of the basereinforcing flap 29 may be connected to the partition panels 88 and 97by means of a staple 114 and the outer ends of the base reinforcing flap29 may be connected respectively to the infold ribs 4546 and the infoldribs 4041 by means of staples 115416. The

base is thereby made strong to carry heavy bottles.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the detail of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strap type compartment carrier having a plura ity ofcompartments disposed in two rows with the number of compartments ineach row being equal to (n) which is equal to one-half of said pluralityof compartments, said compartment carrier being foldable from acollapsed condition to an erected condition and comprising centrallydisposed handle means, a base having outer edges, wall means defining acollapsible box-compartment having first and second opposed side wallsand first and second opposed end walls, said first and second opposedside walls having lower edges respectively connected to the outer edgesof said base, said first and second opposed end walls havingrespectively first and second end wall rib means, said first and secondendwall ri'b means respectively having a lower portion disposed adjacentsaid base and a riser portion extending above said respective end walls,said handle means comprising first and second telescopic primary handlepanel means both of which have end marginal edge connection portionsconnected respectively to said riser portions of said end wall rib meansand constituting load-carrying connection means between said handlemeans and said first and second opposed end walls, said first telescopicprimary handle panel means comprising first and second handho'ld panelsdefining a two-panel thickness, said second telescopic primary handlepanel means comprising third and .fourth handheld panels defining atwo-panel thickness, said third and fourth handheld panels beingtelescopically dispose-d within said first and second handheld panelswith all said handhold panels defining a iour panel thickness, a firstaesaavv plurality of strap partitions having inner ends hingedlyconnected at (1/11) spaced point to said first handheld panel and havingouter ends hin-gedly connected at (1/ n) spaced points to said firstsidewall, a second plurality of strap partitions having inner endshingedly connected at (1/11) spaced points to said second handheld paneland having outer ends hingedly connected at (1/ n) spaced points to saidsecond side wall, said strap partitions dividing. said box-compartmentinto an (11) number of compartments on each side of said centrallydisposed handle means, secondary partition structure means having endmarginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said lowerportion of said end wall rib means and dividing said box-compartmentinto two side compartments, said secondary partition structure meanshaving first and second bridging panel means extending longitudinallybetween said lower portions of said end wall nib means of said first andsecond opposed end walls, said first bridging panel means comprisingfirst and second bridging panels, said second bridging panel meanscomprising third and fourth bridging panels, said third and fourthbridging panels being secured together with said first and secondbridging panels constituting first and second exposed sides, a firstplurality of secondary partition members having inner ends hingedlyconnected at (1/11) spaced points to said first side of said secondarypartition structure means and having outer ends fixedly secured withreference to said first side wall at (1/11) spaced points therealong, asecond plurality of secondary partitions having inner ends hingedlyconnected at (1/ n) spaced points to said second sid of said secondarypartition structure means and having outer ends fixedly secured withreference to said second side wall at (1/ n) spaced points therealong,said first and second sides of said secondary partition structure meanshaving outer raised surface portions and recessed surface portions, saidrecessed surface portions receiving respectively said first and secondplurality of secondary partition members whereby when the partitionmembers are collapsed against said recessed surface portions, theexposed surfaces of said collapsed partition members are substantiallyon the same level as said outer raised surface portions of saidsecondary partition panel means.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein there is secondary handle structuremeans reinforcing said handle mean-s, said secondary handle structuremeans comprising first and second reinforcing handle panel meanssandwiched between said third and fourth handhold panels and having endmarginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said riserportions of said end wall rib means.

3. Ina compartment carrier having a plurality of compartments disposedin two rows with the number of compartments in each row being equal to(n) which is equal to one-half of said plurality of compartments, saidcom-- partment carrier being foldable from a collapsed condition to anerected condition and comprising centrally disposed handle means, a basehaving outer edges, wall means defining a collapsible box-compartmenthaving first and second opposed side walls and first and second opposedend walls, said first and second opposed side walls having lower edgesrespectively connected to the outer edges of said base, said first andsecond opposed end walls having respectively first and second end Wallrib means, said first and second end wall rib means respectively havinga lower portion disposed adjacent said base and a rise-r portionextending above said respective end walls, said handle means comprisingfirst and second telescopic primary handle panel means both of whichhave end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively tosaid riser portions of said end wall rib means and constitutingloadcarrying connection means between said handle means and said firstand second opposed end walls, said first telescopic primary handle panelmeans comprising first and second handheld panels defining.

8. a two-panel thickness, said second telescopic primary hand-1e panelmeans comprising third and fourth handheld panels defining a two-panelthickness, said third and fourth handhold panels being telescopicallydisposed within said first and second handhold panels with all saidhandhold panels defining a four-panel thickness, secondary partitionstructure means having end marginal edge connection portions connectedrespectively to said lower portion of said end wall rib means anddividing said box-compartment into two side compartments, said secondarypartition structure means having first and secand bridging panel meansextending longitudinally beween said lower portions of said end Wall ribmeans of said first and second opposed end walls, said first bridgingpanel means comprising first and second bridging panels, said secondbridging panel means comprising third and fourth bridging panels, saidthird and fourth bridging panels being secured together with said firstand second bridging panels constituting first and second exposed sides,a first plurality of secondary partition members having inner endshingedly connected at (1/11) spaced points to said first side of saidsecondary partition structure means and having outer ends fixedlysecured with reference to said first sidewall at (1/11) spaced pointstherealong, a second plurality of secondary partitions having inner endshingedly connected at (l/n) spaced points to said second side of saidsecondary partiton structur means and having outer ends fixedly securedwith reference to said second side wall at (1/ n) spaced pointstherealong, said first and second sides of said secondary partitionstructure means having outer raised surface portions and recessedsurface portions, said recessed surface portions receiving respectivelysaid first and second plurality of secondary partition members wherebywhen the partition members are collapsed against said recessed surfaceportions, the exposed surfaces of said collapsed partition mernbers aresubstantially on the same level as said outer raised surface portions ofsaid secondary partition panel means.

4. The structure of claim 3, .wherein said base has centrally disposedand longitudinally extending reinforcing flap means projecting towardsaid handle means, and means connecting said reinforcing flap means tosaid secondary partition structure means.

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein said base has centrally disposedand longitudinally extending reinforcing fiap means projecting towardsaid handle means, and means connecting said reinforcing flap means tosaid lower portions of said end wall rib means.

6. The structure of claim 3, wherein said base has centrally disposedand longitudinally extending reinforcing flap means projecting towardsaid handle means, and staple means connecting said reinforcing flapmeans to said lower portions of said end wall rib means.

7. A carrier for bottles and other similar articles, said carrier beingfoldable from a collapsed condition to an erected condition, saidcarrier comprising centrally disposed handle means, wall means defininga box-compartment with four corners, said wall means having opposed sidewall means each having end corner edges and 0pposed end wall means eachhaving end corner edges, said end corner edges of said side wall meansand of said end wall means being joined together to define said fourcorners, said opposed side wall means having bottom edges, base Wallmeans having outer edges respectively connected to the bottom edges ofsaid opposed side wall means, said end wall means comprising first andsecond pair of end panels, said first pair of end panels having inneradjacent edges and having a first pair of infold reinforcing flapsrespectively connected along vertical fold lines to the inner adjacentedges thereof, said first pair of infold reinforcing flaps extend inginwardly of the box-compartment in face-contacting relation and beingfixedly secured together to join the inner adjacent edges of the firstpair of end panels, said first pair of infold reinforcing flapsconstituting first end wall rib means, said second pair of end panelshaving inner adjacent edges and having a second pair of infoldreinforcing flaps respectively connected along vertical fold lines tothe inner adjacent edges thereof, said secnd pair of infold reinforcingflaps extending inwardly of the box-compartment in face-contactingrelation and being fixedly secured together to join the inner adjacentedges of the second pair of end panels, said second pair of in-foldreinforcing flaps constituting second end wall rib means, said first andsecond end wall rib means respectively having first and second riserportions extending respectively abov the first and second pair of endpanels, said handle means extending lengthwise of said carrier andhaving first and second load-carrying end-connection portionsrespectively secured to said first and second riser portions andconstituting first and second load-carrying connections between saidhandle means and said first and second pair of end panels, said baseWall means having first and second end edges and base wall rib meansextending lengthwise thereof from one end edge to the other andprojecting upwardly towards said handle means, said base wall rib meanshaving first and second loadcarryin-g end connection portions, saidfirst and second end wall rib means having respectively first and secondload-carrying bottom connection portions, said base wall means in theerected condition of said carrier being disposed at a first positionsubstantially longitudinally coextensive w-ith said handle means and inthe collapsed condition of the carrier being disposed at a secondposition longitudinally ofi-set with respect to said first position fora distance substantially equal to one-half the width of a pair of endpanels, said first and second loadcarrying end connection port-ions ofsaid base 'wall rib means and said first and second load-carrying bottomconnection portions of said end Wall rib means being disposedrespectively alongside each other in face-contact ing relationship forsecurement with each other in the erected condition of said carrier, andload-carrying securecment means comprising staple means securing saidfirst and second load-carrying end connection portions of said base wallrib means respectively to said first and second load-carrying bot-tomconnection portions of said end Wall rib means, said handle means, saidbase wall rib means and said end wall rib means in the erected conditionof said carrier lying substantially in the same plane and separatingsaid box compartment into two half-compartmerits.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,418,350 4/ 1947Holy 220- 2,563,620 8/1951 Ringler 220-113 2,630,264 3/1953 Holy 220-1112,820,572 1/1958 Ringler 220-113 2,932,424 4/ 1960 Arneson 220-1133,053,411 9/1962 Struble et a1. 220-113 3,083,865 4/1963 {Eon-er 220-1133,084,831 4/1963 Arneson 220-113 3,115,273 12/1963 Gish 220-115 GEORGEO. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A STRAP TYPE COMPARTMENT CARRIER HAVING A PLURALIITY OFCOMPARTMENTS DISPOSED IN TWO ROWS WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPARTMENTS INEACH ROW BEING EQUAL TO (N) WHICH IS EQUAL TO ONE-HALF OF SAID PLURALITYOF COMPARTMENTS, SAID COMPARTMENT CARRIER BEING FOLDABLE FROM ACOLLAPSED CONDITION TO AN ERECTED CONDITION AND COMPRISING CENTRALLYDISPOSED HANDLE MEANS, BASE HAVING OUTER EDGES, WALL MEANS DEFINING ACOLLAPSIBLE BOX-COMPARTMENT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED SIDE WALLSAND FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSEDSIDE WALLS HAVING LOWER EDGES RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER EDGESOF SAID BASE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS HAVINGRESPECTIVELY FIRST AND SECOND END WALL RIB MEANS, SAID FIRST AND SECONDEND WALL RIB MEANS RESPECTIVELY HAVING A LOWER PORTION DISPOSED ADJACENTSAID BASE AND A RISER PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID RESPECTIVE END WALLS,SAID HANDLE MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND TELESCOPIC PRIMARY HANDLEPANEL MEANS BOTH OF WHICH HAVE END MARGINAL EDGE CONNECTION PORTIONSCONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID RISER PORTIONS OF SAID END WALL RIB MEANSAND CONSITUTING LOAD-CARRYING CONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID HANDLE MEANSAND SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS, SAID FIRST TELESCOPICPRIMARY HANDLE PANEL MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND HANDHOLD PANELSDEFINING A TWO-PANEL THICKNESS, SAID SECOND TELESCOPIC PRIMARY HANDLEPANEL MEANS COMPRISING THIRD AND FOURTH HANDHOLD PANELS DEFINING ATWO-PANEL THICKNESS, SAID THIRD AND FOURTH HANDHOLD PANELS BEINGTELESCOPICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST AND SECOND HANDLHOLD PANELSWITH ALL SAID HANDHOLD PANELS DEFINING A FOUR-PANEL THICKNESS, A FIRSTPLURALITY OF STRAP PARTITIONS HAVING INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT(1/N) SPACED POINT TO SAID FIRST HANDHOLD PANEL AND HAVING OUTER ENDSHINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID FIRST SIDE WALL, ASECOND PLURALITY OF STRAP PARTITIONS HAVING INNER ENDS HNGEDLY CONNECTEDAT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID SECOND HANDHOLD PANEL AND HAVING OUTERENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID SECOND SIDE WALL,SAID STRAP PARTITIONS DIVIDING SAID BOX-COMPARTMENT INTO AN (N) NUMBEROF COMPARTMENTS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID CENTRALLY DISPOSED HANDLE MEANS,SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS HAVING END MARGINAL EDGE CONNECTIONPORTIONS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID END WALLRIB MEANS AND DIVIDING SAID BOX-COMPARTMENT INTO TWO SIDE COMPARTMENTS,SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS HAVING FIRST AND SECONDBRIDGING PANEL MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID LOWERPORTIONS OF SAID END WALL RIB MEANS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED ENDWALLS, SAID FIRST BRIDGING PANEL MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECONDBRIDGING PANELS, SAID SECOND BRIDGING PANEL MEANS COMPRISING THIRD ANDFOURTH BRIDGING PANELS, SAID THIRD AND FOURTH BRIDGING PANELS BEINGSECURED TOGETHER WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND BRIDGING PANELS CONSTITUTINGFIRST AND SECOND EXPOSED SIDES, A FIRST PLURALITY OF SECONDARY PARTITIONMEMBERS HAVING INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TOSAID FIRST SIDE OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS AND HAVINGOUTER ENDS FIXEDLY SECURED WITH REFERENCE TO SAID FIRST SIDE WALL AT(1/N) SPACED POINTS THEREALONG, A SECOND PLURALITY OF SECONDARYPARTITIONS HAVING INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTSTO SAID SECOND SIDE OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS ANDHAVING OUTER ENDS FIXEDLY SECURED WITH REFERENCE TO SAID SECOND SIDEWALL AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS THEREALONG, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDES OFSAID SECONDARY PARTITION STURCTURE MEANS HAVING OUTER RAISED SURFACEPORTIONS AND RECESSED SURFACE PORTIONS, SAID RECESSED SURFACE PORTIONSRECEIVING RESPECTIVELY SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLURALITY OF SECONDARYPARTITION MEMBERS WHEREBY WHEN THE PARTITION MEMBERS ARE COLLAPSEDAGAINST SAID RECESSED SURFACE PORTIONS, THE EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAIDCOLLAPSED PARTITION MEMBERS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE SAME LEVEL AS SAIDOUTER RAISED SURFACE PORTIONS OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION PANEL MEANS.